Button-hole tab



(No Model.)

S. A SAEGER.

BUTTON HOLE TAB.

No. 388,075. Patented Aug. 21, 1888.

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SALLIE A. SAEGER, OF ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

BUTTON HOLE TAB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 388,075, dated August 21,1888.

Application filed April 28, 1888. Serial No. 272.190. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SALLIE A. SAEGER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Allentown, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Button-Hole Tabs; and I do declare the following to be a fu1l,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable'others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to waistbands for drawers, shirts, trousers, and the like, and more especially to the button-holes formed therein or thereon; and it consists of an elastic loop sheathed in a case having a smooth interlor face, when arranged, secured, and operating substantially as hereinafter described.

Heretofore buttonhole tabs have been made and attached to waistbands or suspenderends for serving the same general purpose; but the details of construction thereof differed materially from the present invention.

The following specification describes and the accompanying drawings illustrate what I consider the best means of carrying out my invent-ion.

In the said drawings, Figure 1 is a general yiew of a pair of drawers with tabs containing my button-hole attached to and projecting above the waistband thereof. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the tab. Fig. 3 is a view of the interior of said tab when opened on the line of its upper end. Fig. 4 is a still further en larged detail view of the elastic loop removed. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the loop provided with the kid re-enforcement hereinafter described. Fig. 5 is a view of a waistband having the tabs set therein flush with its upper edge. Fig. 6 is a view of a Suspender-end with the tab attached thereto. Fig. 7 is a view of the tab provided with an ordinary button hole at one end, for a purpose to be described.

The same letters of reference with distinguishing supernumerals have been applied to similar parts in the several views.

1) represents a pair of drawers, trousers, or overalls having a waistband, 0, all of the ordinary construction, except as hereinafter specified. The tabs containing my buttonhole are either attached to said waistband, as shown in Fig. 1, so that they will project above it, or are set into it, as in Fig. 5, so that their upper ends will be ilush with the upper edge thereof. The former plan is more convenient where the tabs are to be quickly and perhaps temporarily applied to a garment constructed Without them; but the latter makes a better, neater, and more serviceable job, and is preferableif the tab is applied at the time the garment is made.

Fig. (5 represents my tab applied to the lower end of a suspender-strap, which is either elastic or not, being secured thereto by stitches s.

Fig. 7 shows the tab with its body slightly elongated and provided at its rear end with an ordinary button-hole, H, whereby it may be secured to the collar of an overcoat or the lappel of a full-dress coat for obvious use in that connection in securing the collar in a storm or connecting the lappels.

The tab itself is preferably constructed as follows: A short piece of elastic cord, E, is bent into the form of an eye or loop, its body fastened at T by a strong thread,eord,or wire, and its ends Eprojecting laterally away from the body. Around the upper end of the eye so formed is worked a number of button-hole stitches, e, for preventing the wearing of the button-shank upon the elastic cord. Instead of such button-hole stitches c, I sometimes secure a piece of kid, leather, or other tough material at this point. This forms a more durable device, but is more expensive.

The elastic is placed within a jacket,sheathing, cover, or case, 0, of oil-cloth, heavy cambric, or some other fabric having a smooth glossy surface, and such surface is caused to lie next the elastic. Outside the sheathing O, I prefer to attach another cover, 0, of any preferred or desired materiahfor adding strength and beauty to the tab. The two jackets O and O are of the same size and shape, folded on the transverse line F at their centers, secured along both sides by stitches L,cnt away at the centers at A, forming a semicircular scallop when folded, as in Fig. 2, and sewed with button-hole stitches to around the edges of such scallop before they are folded together.

The elastic is secured within the sheathing O by a vertical row or line of stitches, 0, passed through the four thicknesses of the jackets after the latter are folded together. The elastic is placed in the sheathing in the position shown in Fig. 3, so that the upper or button-hole-stitched end of the eye extends into the scallop A just far enough to be grasped by the hand of the operator. It is secured in this position by the said line of stitches c, which extends from the edge of said scallop. down within the elastic eye or loop to the cord T andis carried far enough to slightly stretch the elastic, so that it shall be held in place firmly. As additional means of fastening, however, the lateral ends E of the elastic are secured by stitches e, which preferably extend only through the sheathing O and are not visible after the cover 0 has been applied.

In the process of making this tab the elastic eye is first formed complete. The two jackets are next cut out. and button-hole stitched at a. The eye is then put in place, the ends E secured by the stitches e through the sheathing only, the cord T grasped from below by a crochet-needle or si milarinstrument and drawn downwardly, the line of stitches c begun from the proper point at the lower end, the upper end of the eye grasped by said needle and drawn out, the line of stitches 0 carried up to the lower edge of the scallop A, the eye released and allowed to snap against the upper stitch c, and, finally, the two jackets are secured in closed position or condition by the side stitches, L. The tab may then be sewed to any waistband, suspender end, or other point, or used as deemed desirable.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated another application of my tab, as hereinbefore mentioned. In this case the construction is precisely the same, except that the cover 0 is omitted and for the time the inner and outer layers of the material of the waistband itself serve as such cover. This brings the fold F of the sheathing flush with the upper folded edge of the waistband, which is the cover in this instance, and, while all stitching is the same, a more perfect and desirable article is formed.

It will be obvious the tab may be used on the lower edge of blouse-waists or on vests and similar garments, and by setting the buttons some distance from the attaching-edge the flush form, Fig. 5, may be used without exposing the garment beneath. Indeed, if the scallop A be made deep enough, the buttons may be set very near the edge with no disagreeable results. I have also shown in Fig. 5 button-holes H located directly in line with the scallops of the tabs similar to those shown in Fig. 7. In this case, however,their use is slightly different. Being formed below the loop E at, say, two inches distance, if it is desired to raise the garment D for any reason, and hold itsuspended at a more elevated height than by the loops E, the buttons are disengaged from thelatter and inserted in the holes H. Theflush upper edge of waistband G offers no objection to .this new relative arrangement of parts, and the change may be effected without difficulty and with but little loss of time. It is true the same end would be accomplished with a double set of ordinary buttonholes one above the other; but the liability of the lower tearing into the upper, as frequently occurs on straps buckled by a tongue-buckle, is entirely overcome, as thelateral ends E of the loop and their fasteningstitches lie above the upper ends of the lower holes H and form a strong and durable brace therefor.

In operation the loop is grasped between the thumb and finger of the operators hand and drawn out, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2. It is then pushed over and around the button and allowed to snap back to place. In doit down against the lower end of the scallop A, where it is surrounded on all sides by but-- ton-hole stitches e and a, and from which position it cannot possibly escape. To unbutton, the operation is reversed with ease.

Modifications may be made to a considera= ble extent without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of my invention.

What I claim as new is 1. As a new article of manufacture, a but ton-hole tab comprising asheathing of smooth fabric having a scallop in its upper end for engaging the shank of the button on its lower side, an elastic cord, E, secured by a cord, T, to form a loop, the whole located within said sheathing and its free end extending normally into said scallop and adapted to engage said shank upon its upper side, and a line of stitches, a, passing through the two thicknesses of said sheathing and extending within said loop from the cord T to the lower edge of said scallop, as and for the use and purpose described. y

2. The elastic loop E, in combination with the folded sheathing composed of a smooth fabric, the cover upon the exterior of said sheathing, both said jackets being provided with a scallop in their upper folded ends, two sets of button hole stitches, a, uniting the sheathing and cover around the edge of said scallop, one set on either side of the interior space, a line of stitching, L, at each side uniting the four edges of sheathing and cover, and

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a line of stitches, a, passing through the four cover upon the exterior of said sheathing and the tab, as and for the use and purpose set 10 secured thereto by side stitches, L, said tab forth.

having an ordinary button-hole, H, extending In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in through the four thicknesses of sheathing and presence of two witnesses.

cover and located below and in line with the loop E, and a line of stitches,c,passingthrough SALLIE SAEGER the four thicknesses of said sheathing and Witnesses:

cover and extending longitudinally within LIZZIE L. \VHEELER,

said loop from the cord T to the upper end of A. L. BIERY. 

